The high-octane world of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is no stranger to off-field drama, but the latest controversy surrounding Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has left fans and civic groups in disbelief. Just as the 2026 season enters its crucial mid-phase, a viral video allegedly featuring the 35-year-old leg-spinner has taken social media by storm. The footage, which has garnered millions of views across social media platforms, suggests a stark contradiction to the role model image Chahal has recently cultivated.
Yuzvendra Chahal allegedly spotted smoking and littering while driving
The controversy erupted late Friday evening when a short clip surfaced, purportedly showing an individual closely resembling Chahal behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle. In the video, the person is seen taking a drag from a cigarette while navigating traffic. However, it was the subsequent action that triggered the most outrage: the individual casually tossed the burning cigarette butt onto the public road.
The backlash was instantaneous. Netizens were quick to point out the lack of civic responsibility. While the authenticity of the video remains unverified and neither Chahal nor the Punjab Kings management have issued an official statement, the timing is particularly damaging. The clip has sparked a heated debate regarding the social ethics of national sporting icons, especially given Chahal’s status as one of India’s most beloved cricketers.
Here’s the video:
🚨 YUZI CHAHAL SMOKING VIDEO GOES VIRAL 🚨
Yuzvendra Chahal is facing heavy
backlash online after a late-night video of him went viral. Netizens are calling him out for allegedly smoking and throwing a cigarette onto the road while driving. pic.twitter.com/tjUlZH0Gf7— Jeet (@JeetN25) April 10, 2026
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Chahal’s confession of quitting addictions and prioritizing fitness
What makes these allegations particularly shocking is Chahal’s recent public commitment to a disciplined lifestyle. Only weeks ago, during an intimate conversation with South African legend AB de Villiers on his YouTube podcast, Chahal revealed a transformative shift in his personal habits.
“I’ve stopped drinking alcohol, and it’s been more than six months. I am now 35, so I want to be more active and give my 150% for my team. As a senior player, I want people in the IPL to learn something from me,” Chahal told De Villiers.
Chahal’s “sober era” was driven by a desire to bounce back from the injuries that hampered him during the IPL 2025 season. Despite Punjab Kings finishing as runners-up last year under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, Chahal was self-critical of his fitness, noting that rib and knuckle fractures prevented him from bowling at his peak in the final against RCB.
Entering the 2026 season, the leg-spinner emphasized his goal of being a mentor to younger players. However, this viral video threatens to overshadow his on-field efforts—where he has already claimed three wickets in his first few outings. For a player who admitted that the absence of teammate Marco Jansen cost PBKS the title last year, Chahal’s own off-field missing pieces are now under the microscope. Whether this video is a genuine lapse in judgment or a case of mistaken identity remains to be seen, but the court of social media has already begun its session.
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